Skip Bayless’ “Undisputed” has hit a dry spell for the reason that departure of NFL Corridor of Famer and present ESPN “First Take” analyst, Shannon Sharpe. Bayless’ new crew, which incorporates former NFL stars, rappers and a extremely revered media character, hasn’t been capable of captivate the nation in the identical method Skip & Shannon did for thus a few years. However now that we’ve seen Skip’s imaginative and prescient for the “New Undisputed,” it’s time for FOX Sports activities and FS1 to develop a pair and reel Bayless again in.
To place it frankly, it’s not working anymore. However in equity, this present has turn out to be much less irritating than watching ESPN pull the strings on their puppet main the competitors on that different present Bayless as soon as starred in. Although Stephen A. Smith and his merry band of misfits appear to have the suitable system, particularly since Sharpe jumped on board last fall.
Final week, Bayless’ present hit a brand new low since returning to air for the beginning of the NFL season. The present attracted a median of simply 50,000 viewers final Tuesday (Feb. 27) which was even decrease than the re-air of ESPN’s “Get Up” on ESPN 2 the identical day. As ratings continue to dip lower and lower, FS1 simply sits again and watches. All for the sake of appeasing their supposed “golden goose,” Bayless.
Now that we’re by the NFL season and have a while to breathe earlier than the NBA playoffs, FS1 wants to noticeably take an in depth have a look at the community. Their two day by day exhibits that begin off the stay programming portion of the day (Monday-Friday) are applications virtually no person cares about. “The Craig Carton Show” main into “Undisputed” has been a catastrophe. Carton’s present on FS1 has at all times felt prefer it’s on an island unto itself with no actual connection to the opposite exhibits on FS1’s day by day lineup.
When Sharpe was nonetheless within the fold on “Undisputed”, even through the rift towards the top, it was nonetheless a strong present that followers beloved tuning into and chatting about on-line even when most hated Bayless. Sharpe was the lone redeeming character in that partnership and that’s evident in how far Bayless has fallen over the previous a number of months. We’re not even a full yr into the cut up of Sharpe and Bayless and an undisputed (pun meant), clear-cut winner has been topped.
Essentially the most hated man in sports activities media
The proof is within the pudding, as they are saying, and Bayless’ expired way back. There have been stories from the beginning relationship again to final summer season that executives at FOX Sports activities weren’t proud of Bayless’ determination to go together with a rotating ensemble cast to replace Shay Shay. All he did was copy Smith’s current “First Take” format and known as it a day.
Bayless was the No. 1 man for years and actually helped get this entire debate style of sports activities speak exhibits rolling. However the finish comes for all of us and it’s time for FOX to cease tiptoeing across the challenge and make wholesale modifications to the early morning block of programming. They’ll’t proceed to permit Bayless to regulate such a primary viewing slot with little to no return.
As a character, Bayless is hated by most individuals you speak to and that even goes for many who’ve had the “pleasure” of working with him. But it surely goes far past disliking the on-air character: People don’t like the person, Skip Bayless. Now, this deep dislike for Bayless isn’t actually new, however after his comments following Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field in January final yr, that despatched most over the sting.
Sharpe couldn’t even defend Bayless after that and even skipped the present that following Monday morning. Add to that the blatant disrespect Bayless has proven to athletes over time, together with former co-host, Sharpe, and it’s clear to see why no person likes nor needs to be round him. Some time again there was speak of Bayless and Smith teaming up as soon as once more, which finally amounted to nothing. Which may not be a nasty thought because it feels just like the additional away we get from the outdated “First Take”, the extra it looks as if Smith and Bayless really deserve one another.
